To Holly at the AP, Thanks, but no

Dear Holly,

Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog. I’m flattered that you saw something of interest in my writings. I saw the comment last night and have spent some time mulling things over. Much to my own surprise, I’m going to decline your invitation to discuss Elizabeth Edwards.

You are correct, there is no contact information on this blog. It is anonymous for a reason. It is my place to rant and rave about whatever crosses my mind without fear of reprisal. I have other blogs where I identify myself, and I craft my messages more carefully in those spaces to insure the respectfulness that I believe is necessary for our coexistence on this planet. Here is where I blow of my steam of Righteous Moral Indignation. Venting is good, but it is not always conducive to peaceful coexistence. I don’t advertise this blog, nor do I share the URL with people. If per chance people stumble upon it, I welcome feedback, but do not view it as a requirement to continue to write (yeah, I know this seems a little odd in light of my Sally Field post, but tough).

I’m not naive, I’ve probably revealed enough here that someone who REALLY wanted to find me could (no, that is not a challenge to all the psychos out there :).

I’m also not afraid of confrontation, and I am more than willing to discuss and if necessary defend my opinions, but in the case of Mrs. Edwards, I have said all I feel comfortable saying at this time. I do not wish to further any discussion of the so called “Mommy Wars“. Not that you were necessarily headed that way, but if I were to discuss Mrs. Edwards, I would like to do so in the context of her work with her husband’s campaign and by conscious choice, I have not been paying too much attention as of late. The election is more than 1 year away, yet both sides of the aisle started campaigning late last year. While I believe in the democratic process, in the immortal words of Dennis Miller, “Hey Cha, Cha, I have a life to lead”. The field of candidates will shake itself out and they will all eventually share their positions of the issues of importance to me, or they won’t and I’ll judge them based on that lack of information. Right now, I have children to raise, a marriage to enjoy and a business to run. Oh and rants to rave in anonymity.

So Holly of the AP, thanks for the invitation, but I respectfully decline and wish you good luck in your continued search.

Reesie

I Feel Like Sally Field

You read me! You really read me!

Thanks to Oh. The Joys for her comment on my last post. I basically lurk on her blog, (even though most days, I am ROFL at her posts) more because of time than anything else. I usually catch up on my bloggy friends while waiting for the waffles to toast and the oatmeal to microwave before calling the rugrats to breakfast. Once the little feet hit the ground, there is no time for typing.

I have yet to set up stats on this blog (pure laziness on my part), so I have no clue if anyone but me is reading this unless you comment dear reader. I’ll do my best to get stats set up soon, but in the mean time, thanks OTJ for letting me know I’m not just talking to myself. To the rest of you (if there are any others), please feel free to comment away.

BTW, don’t miss OTJs posts on Hens with Big Hallways and more recently, Fruit of the Loom. WARNING: Don’t read them of your ribs hurt. Oh, and be sure to have a tissue handy for the tears of laughter that will stream down your face.

Counting My Blessings Today

About this time 5 years ago, we were preparing to sell our house, put most of our stuff in storage, move in with my in-laws and build house next door to them.

My husband was “coming home” to the country and I was leaving all that I knew behind in the city. That isn’t dramatic effect, it is accepted fact. We both new it at the time and although I was reluctant and the change was scary. It was the better choice for our family.

This morning, I want to express gratitude for all the change that has brought me here. I was sitting in the kitchen this morning and my 3 year old, opened the back door and wandered outside to play. He would NEVER have been allowed to roam so freely at our last house.

Just now, my mother-in-law agreed to meet my older child at the school bus so I could take the 3 YO to the only available doctor’s appointment today. We didn’t have that kind of back up until we moved here.

Life is good.

What’s wrong here?

I first read the story about a mother who left her 2 children aged 1 & 4 in a car on an 88 degree day in South Carolina via an AP report. As is typical of AP (by necessity most times), it was a very top level report. I had to know more. I found a detailed article here.

My first response is fury with the mother. What the HELL was she thinking??????? But upon stepping back, maybe she was thinking “Well, it’s 3pm now, the sun will go down soon, and it will be a little cooler then, plus, the kids will go to sleep, if I can get through this shift making barely minimum wage, then maybe we can have dinner for the rest of the week and I can by diapers, but if I call in, they’ll fire me and then we’ll be out on the street. So, it is stay in the car for a few hours or live there for months. Hmmmmm, what to do, what to do.” Desperation can talk you in to doing things you otherwise would never consider.

Everyone must be held accountable for their actions, and this ranks up there with COMPLETE STUPIDITY, don’t get me wrong. But if the woman is working a 3-11 shift and living in an extended stay hotel, then, my guess she probably doesn’t hold an MBA, and quite possibly, she is struggling to make the ends come within the same zip code never mind meet. The availability of affordable, flexible childcare in this country is a HUGE problem.

One that has dire consequences.

Peace be with you Triniti and Shawn.